Micro-sampling device

Abstract

A device for obtaining a micro-sample of a liquid specimen, and includes a specimen container with a longitudinal capillary bore and a solid probe on a support which may be inserted totally or partially into the capillary bore to displace a micro-sample of known volume from the bore of the container. The device may be used for any liquid specimen for which micro-samples are required such as blood plasma.

I claim: 
     
       1. A micro-sampling device for accurately measuring a desired volume of a micro-sample of a fluid, comprising: (1) specimen container means for containing a specimen of said fluid to be sampled, said specimen container means having a capillary bore extending longitudinally thereof and having an open end through which said fluid is received into said capillary bore by capillary action;   (2) support means; and   (3) solid probe means angularly disposed on said support means for accurately displacing a desired measured volume of said fluid from said specimen container means upon threadedly placing said capillary bore open end onto said probe means, said support means being selectively positionable in relation to a separate collection means;   whereby the extent to which said capillary bore open end is placed onto said probe means controls the volume of fluid displaced from the capillary bore to give said desired measured volume of fluid.   
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said solid probe means is provided in the form of a probe unit comprising: (a) a probe support member having two planar portions connected to one another substantially at right angles; and   (b) a solid probe attached at an acute angle to one of said planar portions and having its free end extending in a direction toward said other planar portion, said one planar portion to which said solid probe is attached terminating in a vertex, said free end of said solid probe being positioned in relation to said other planar portion such that said capillary bore open end is threadedly placeable onto said solid probe to displace said desired volume of fluid from said capillary bore.   
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 2, and further comprising means defining a hole in said other planar portion adjacent to the angle between said two planar portions. 
     
     
       4. A probe unit substantially as defined in claim 2. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said solid probe means is provided in the form of a probe unit comprising: (a) a solid probe; and   (b) a platform means for supporting said solid probe having a platform face, said desired volume of fluid displaced from said capillary bore being receiveable by said platform means when said capillary bore open end is threadedly placed onto said solid probe so that said capillary bore open end contacts said platform face.   
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said platform means includes a dished surface for receiving said displaced fluid. 
     
     
       7. A probe unit substantially as defined in claim 5. 
     
     
       8. A micro-sampling device for accurately measuring a desired volume of a micro-sample of fluid, comprising: (1) specimen container means for containing a specimen of said fluid to be sampled, said specimen container means having a capillary bore extending longitudinally thereof and having an open end through which said fluid is received into said capillary bore by capillary action;   (2) support means;   (3) solid probe means mounted on said support means for accurately displacing a desired measured volume of said fluid from said specimen container means upon insertion of said probe means into said capillary bore open end, said support means being selectively positionable in relation to a separate collection means;   (4) probe indexing means associated with said solid probe means for selectively indexing the extent to which said solid probe means is inserted into said capillary bore, thereby to control the volume of fluid displaced from said capillary bore to give said desired measured volume of fluid.   
     
     
       9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said solid probe indexing means includes at least one index point and means selectively engageable with said at least one index point to control the extent of insertion of said solid 
     
     
       10. A process for analyzing a microsample of a fluid, comprising: (a) providing a specimen container means for containing a specimen of said fluid to be analyzed, said specimen container means having a capillary bore extending longitudinally thereof and having an open end through which said fluid is received into said capillary bore by capillary action;   (b) causing said fluid to be analyzed to enter said capillary bore through said open end;   (c) providing a solid probe means angularly disposed on a support means for accurately displacing a desired predetermined volume of a micro-sample of said fluid from said container means;   (d) displacing an accurate predetermined volume of a micro-sample of said fluid from said capillary bore by controlled penetration of said solid probe means into said capillary bore;   (e) collecting the fluid displaced upon said penetration; and   (f) analyzing said collected displaced fluid.